That was 24 years ago. Now Germany is one unified nation, and once again champion of the world.

The Germans became the first team from Europe to win a World Cup in the Western Hemisphere, defeating Argentina 1-0 on the goal that late-game substitute Mario Goetze will remember for the rest of his life. So will his countrymen, who will probably make sure Goetze never has to pay for another beverage for as long as he lives.

Here's the play of the 120-plus-minute game, which happened in the second overtime period:

Another sub, Andre Schurrle, sent the cross in to Goetze for the assist. Manuel Neuer needed only to make two saves in goal as Germany's defense locked down Argentina megastar Lionel Messi and his teammates to power to another win.

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, recipient of the Golden Glove trophy, stands next to Argentina's Lionel Messi after he receive the Golden Ball trophy following Germany's 1-0 victory over Argentina after the World Cup final soccer match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Neuer was named the top goalkeeper of the tournament. Messi was named winner of the Golden Ball trophy as the best player in the 2014 World Cup -- though he fell short of the final grand piece of his legacy this time around.

With Germany's Thomas Muller not adding to his five-goal total, James Rodriguez of Colombia won the Golden Boot for his six goals overall.

The 2014 final featured some near misses and close calls, especially in the first half. Argentina got off to the start it wanted, and in the 21st minute Gonzalo Higuain got his chance off a bad back pass.

Imagine what could have been had Higuain managed to score. Argentina fans will cringe at the memory forever.

In the 88th minute, Miroslav Klose left the game for a substitution, marking the end of an amazing World Cup career for the German forward who was born in Poland. Klose played in his final World Cup match and walks away as the all-time leading goal scorer in its history with 16 goals. He played in four World Cups, in which Germany either advanced to the semifinals or the final.

It seemed only fitting that Klose ended it with a championship.

There were at least as many hard hits resulting in fouls or yellow cards as scoring chances. Neuer drove a high knee to Higuain's head in the second half. No card, no foul.

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer collides with Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain during the World Cup final soccer match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Francois Xavier Marit, Pool)

If defense is your thing, you saw plenty of it in this match. It wasn't always pretty nor exciting, but the tension that continued to build as we waited for someone to break through with the first goal was palpable.

And one goal, as it turned out, was all that was needed.

Fans watching live in Germany went crazy, the party getting started late Sunday night for them. Tearful Argentina fans, who had invaded Rio de Janeiro in hopes of being in the same city as their heroes had they won, were left with nothing more than sadness.

But Argentina's players left everything on the pitch to try to win, or at least force penalty kicks. There was no faulting the effort.

Argentina can probably get another World Cup out of Messi and some others. But the supporting cast will have to be deeper so as to take at least a little attention off their star. Not having Angel Di Maria available to play was a big loss, as he could have made a difference offensively with his on-ball ability.

Either way, both teams remain two of the world's best.

And now we say goodbye to Brazil, and goodbye to the World Cup until Russia 2018.

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